ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Hi Erich,
" there is no way a museum that incorporates IT can afford not to have at
least some sort of budget line for just such support" << I completely I
agree with you there, however, we currently have several other staffing
needs that are taking precedence over a tech person. I wouldn't be
surprised if we end up going in that direction in the very near future. In
the meantime, I'm trying to see what's possible without a dedicated staff
person (contractors, volunteers, etc.).
3 years ago, we had an IT person that left things in a mess that I'm still
cleaning up (with the help of an awesome intern). Regardless of whether we
hire a staff member, hire a contractor, trick people into volunteering for
us, we need an IT plan in place that will ensure things don't fall apart
again.
I'll let you know what I find...
Best,
Steven
On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 1:04 PM, Erich Rose <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Wow! What a great set of questions. And man I have been there. Please,
> please keep all of us in the loop on the answers you receive.
>
> But then there is the bigger picture:
>
> You say there is no money for an IT person? What I would say is there is
> no way a museum that incorporates IT can afford not to have at least some
> sort of budget line for just such support. And if it is not in the current
> budget/plan, an effort must be made to do so in the future. And the future
> is exactly what this is about.
>
> I also have a sneaking suspicion that your job title is short in what you
> actually are asked to do (mine always was) and you will find it hard to
> keep up with the other tasks of design and maintenance if you are spending
> all day trying to debug software or incompatibilities.
>
> Two cents….
>
>
> Erich
>
> Erich Rose Design
> 807 The Living End
> Austin, TX 78746
> 512-626-9930; [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichrose/
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 10, 2014, at 11:41 AM, Steven Valenziano <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> > Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> >
> *****************************************************************************
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I'm grappling with some IT woes, and I'm wondering how other
> > small-to-midsize museums have dealt with similar issues.
> >
> > Specifically, we have no IT person (and can't afford one), and I'm trying
> > to set up systems that allow our IT hardware to "organize itself" with
> > minimal labor on my part, since I prefer to concentrate on designing
> > building new exhibits, not sorting computer cords.
> >
> > We have 30 employees, and about 90 computers, including machines that are
> > used for summer camp programs and exhibits.
> >
> > Things I'd love input on:
> >
> > - *How to document networking and other IT infrastructure? *Regardless
> > who does the IT work- volunteers, contractors, me - the work needs to
> be
> > documented well so others can troubleshoot effectively, or make changes
> > that cooperate with existing infrastructure
> > - *Organization-wide password databases? *so we don't get locked out of
> > computers / other hardware when the person who knows the password
> leaves
> > - *IT volunteers?* Do they help, and what are best practices for
> keeping
> > them happy and ensuring effectiveness?
> > - *How to enable all staff to keep the common IT hardware storage
> > organized?* One thing I'm considering is creating some storage
> > containers for every type of hardware (VGA cables, DVI cables, power
> cords,
> > stereo mini-plugs, multi-RCA plugs, etc.) with crystal-clear pictorial
> > labels, enabling people to put the cords back where they found them.
> > Anyone seen such labels so I don't have to make them all?
> > - *Books or online resources that explain this sort of thing.
> *Googling
> > has been fruitless...
> > - *Anything else that helps things go smoothly...*
> >
> > I'm not trained in IT, so maybe I'm missing something glaringly obvious
> > that an IT person would think is basic.
> >
> >
> > Thanks for any advice you can provide...
> > Steven
> >
> > --
> > *Steven Valenziano*
> > Exhibit Design Coordinator
> >
> > Impression 5 Science Center
> > 200 Museum Drive
> > Lansing, MI 48933
> > office: 517-485-8116 ext 135
> > cell: 919-210-4080
> >
> > impression5.org
> >
> > ***********************************************************************
> > For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> >
> > Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
> >
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> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft.
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--
*Steven Valenziano*
Exhibit Design Coordinator
Impression 5 Science Center
200 Museum Drive
Lansing, MI 48933
office: 517-485-8116 ext 135
cell: 919-210-4080
impression5.org
***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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